Operating mechanism for electric switches.



PATENTED JULY 16, 1907.

J. M. ANDERSBN. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. 1907.

No. 860,438. PATBNTBD JULY 16,1907.

- J. M. ANDBRSBN. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. m1.

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-N .s'so,4sa. V PATENTEDJULY16,1907.

J. M. ANDBRSEN. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ELEGTRIG SWITCHES.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 30, 1001.

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dLQw /ZNQ PATENTED JULY is, 1907.

J. M. ANDBRSEN.

, OPERATING MEUHANISM'FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES.

6 SHEETS-811331 4 PPLIOATIOK FILED. XAB. 30, 1907.

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' J. M. ANDBRSEN.

OPERATING MBGHANISM FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES. APPLIOATIOI mum nu. so. now.

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OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1907.

Application tiled larch 30,1907- Serial No. 365.589.

To oIl whom it only com-cm:

lie it known that l, JHIIAN .\l. ANnsnssN, a citizen of the United States, residing in lioslolt, in the county of Suffolk .ntl State of .\lassachttsetts, have invented an Improvement in Operating Mechanism for Electric Switches, of-which the following description. in cotther of substantially huge electric switches, such. for

instance, as are employed in circuits carrying hi h tension currents.

The invention has for its ohjec't to provide a sintplc and ellicietit apparatus for the purpose specified.

To this end the operating apparatus is provided with a rotatable shaft, which is opetatively connected with the movable inemherof the switch and which is driven by a spring motor. Provision is made for controlling the rotation of the rotatable shall by its spring mot r 'and also for restoring power to said motor after th said enthodvin' this invention. Fi 2 in a hublc, supported by an upright to. secured to the power has been diminished in rotating its shaft. 'lht-se and other featuresof this invention will he pointed ottt in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view of an operating apparatus tt frontelevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3, an end elevationof the apparatus shown in Fig. I. Fig. 4, a cross section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2, looking toward the right. Fig. 5, a cross section on the line -t--4, with the parts in a different position from that shown in Fig. 4. Fig. (3, a cross section on the litte ttti, Fig. 2, looking toward the left. Fig. 7, a similarscction showing the parts in a different position from that shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8, an enlarged detail of the spring motor,

and Fig. 9, a sectitnLon the linc9-il, Fig. 8.

In the tppamtus herein shown as embodying this invention, n represents an electric motor, wltich may be of anysuitahle or desired construction and which is secured as by belts or screws Into asuitahlo hase c.

The motor a has its armature shaft (.1 provided with a worm e (see Fig. 3), which meshes with a wortn gcarj' fast on a. shaft y, having hearings in a huh I: supported by an upright 11 secured to the base 1: (see Fig. 2). In line with the shaft y is a second ehat'tj, having hearings base 0. Provision is made for tiperativoly connecting the shaftj with the shaft 9, so that the shaftj may be driven by 'a spring InUtUT,'WhlCll is wound up by rotation of the shaft g as will now be described. To this end, the shait g tsee Fig. 9) has secured to it as by the key it a drttin o provided with a sid plate or disk which is free to turn llltll'lltlltlt'lllhv f the drttm and which is secured :ts h v the k y 1' to llll' shall j. Within the tlrtttn o is l cated uln' r tnore spring mot rs. and in the present instance I ll'.l\'t shown two coiled springs 20. 2|. similar to clock springs hut ttl rlllllt'lclll strength to enahl cilhcr spring to rotate the shaft one or morttimes, for a purp e as will he dcscrilwd.

'lhe springs 2 31 have their outer cnds sttilaldv connected with lltc drum o and their inner ends snitahl connected with the dish pf In the pr sent instance the outer ctnl of each spring 20. lll is representt-tl as provid d with a h olg 21. which engages a suitahle rt -t.-t-s.-; in the inner cir Itml't-rctn'e ol' the drum o, (see Figs. h and ill. and the inner end of each spring i is provided with a like hook .25. which engages a stillwill in wound up and placed in c ndition to rotatc the shaft j when the latter is released. as will he descrihed.

in the present instance. provision is ma l for slopping rotation of th shaft j at each half rcvolut ion, and for this purpos the disk p is provided with a log or project ion 28, st-t.- Figs. 2. (t and 7). which ('LilI t'HIHF with and isadaptctl toongagtt\\".| st ps. ht-rt-inshown as pivoted arms or levels 2H). It], l culc l on op osite sidcsof tht-shal't jattd n rmally project ing into the path f movement f the log 38 on the disk p.

'lhc stop lever 30 is pr vided at its upper end with a hook 32 so as to engage the lug is n lltc upward tnovcnn-nt f the latter. and the lever It! is made flat on its upper end so as t engage the lug 12s on its d wnward movement. The movahlesto s orlcvt-rsiitl. Ill may lll electrically controlled, and itt the prcscttl instance l have shown them so c ntr lled. To this end lltc stop lt-vcr Iltl-is connected li v t ggle h-vcrs 1H. 17-) and link 36. (set-.Fig. 2 toa rod tit-spindle 37, which is t-Xtcntletl through an clectt'omagnot 3H and has atta hed to it the armature 39 for said magnt-I. 'l lnslop lcvcr Ill is connectcd in a similar nntnnct' to the armature 10 of an cloctronntgnet t l. having its rod or spintllc 42 joined by a litik iii to toggle levers ll, 45, which are connected to the said st p lever, as host shown in Figs. 1, .2 and ti.

The stop lovers 30, 31 are normally in the path of movement of the ltig 2S, and-at such time, the electromagnets 38, 4] are tlet'incrgized, their artnatures being in their lowered or unattracted position represented in Figs. 2 and 6, and the toggle levers being in their till toggle lovers are moved into an inclined position, thercby drawing back the stop lovers from the path of movemont of the lug 28, which is released and places the shaft j under the influence of the spring motor 20 or 21. The elfltrommgnets'BS, 41 in the present instance are suspended from the bearing hub 1:, they being securi d to or forming part of an arm or fraine 47 attached to a hub 48 which is loosely mounted on the bearing hub 11 (see Figs. 2, 6 and 7). The arm 47 is extended down between the magnets 38, 41, and between two stops or lugs 60, 51 secured to the base 0 and which cooperate with said arm to limit the movement of thesamc in opposite directions. The magnet-carrying frame or arm 47 is rocked in one direction by the spring motor 20 or 21, and in arrested in this movement by the stop so as shown in Fig. 7; and the said frame or arm is rocked in the opposite direction by a spring 52 fastened at one end to a link 53 attached to the arm 47 and at its oppo site end to an upright 54 secured to the base r'.

The strength of the spring 52 is so proportioned to the strength of the spring motor 20 or 21, that th spring motor when wound up to its working capacity he will be described, overcomes the tension or strength of the spring 52 and rocks the magnet frame or arm 47 into contact with the lug 50 as shown in Fig. 7, and when the strength of the spring motor falls below a given point or amount, as will be dcscribedQthe spring 5;! predominates and turns the arm 47 into contact. with the lug 31.

When the spring motor 20 or 21 has been wound up sufficiently to perform the work required, it is desirable that the electric motor a should be stopped, and for this purpose, a switch controlling the circuit of said electric motor is oporatively connected with the movable arm 47. In the present instance, the switch for the motor a is shown as a two-pole switch, comprising the tcrminals 56 and contact blades 57 (see Fig. 2), the latter being secured to a movable member pivoted at 58 (see Figs. 6 and 7) to an upright 69 and having an arm 60, which is connected by a link lll to the arm or frame 47. When the spring motor is being wound up, the switch for the motor a is closcd as represented in Fig.1 and remains closed until the spring motor haslbecn wound up sullicieutly to overcome the spring 52 bud rock the arm 47 into the position shown in Fig. 7, a; which time the switch for the motor a will be opened aiutommi ll by the arm 47 and link 61 acting on the m vable member of the switch to move its contact blades out of engagcmcnl; with the cooperating terminals. It will thus be reel). that the spring motor 20 or 2] is controlled in its operation upon the shaft by the electro-uuugncts 38, 11, and that the electric motor a is controlled by the spring motor. The rotation of theshuit j by the spring motor may be employed for various uses, and is particularly well adapted for opening and closingelectric switches for high tt'llh'hlll tlit'lllifi, which switches are not herein shown specifically, but are represented by the rods 65, heroin shown as three in number, unrl vhich in practice may and preferably will be conmrcted with the movable members of oil switches of any suitable, desired or 'aeo sa well-known construction, and not hercir shown, or to the movable member or members of any other form of electric switch.

The rods 66 are extended up though the base r and are attached to a truss bar (it), having; rccul'cd to or 70 forming part of it a vertically movable rack bar ti? (see Fig. l), With which mcshcs a pinion or your or juurnalcd in the forked upper end of a lover or link 69, pivotally *vruncclcd to the free cud of lovers TU.

which are located on opposite sides of an upri ht Tl erected upon the base c and are nlmltllcd on a pivot rod 72 .supportcd by said upright. Tbc h-vcrs 7o intc mediate thcir ends are connccnd by a rod TR, which is joined by a connecting rod 74 to a crank 75 on the sbzu'tj, (see Figs. 2 and l). 'llupinion lifi also engages a stationary rack bar 70 sccurcd lo the upright 71 and located so that the said pinion meshes with its lower end when the rock bar 67 is in in loot r--d position (see Fig. The lever 70 have conncchd lu tin-m one end of helical springs 78, having their ullllt 8; end connected with the upright 71 and acting as countcrlmlances for the Wright of the movable rack bar and thc pnrlsium'able with it. The pinion us may and preferably will have secured to its opposite lucc by wrcws 7.), bearing disks 50. which cooperate with Ju metal strips or runners 81, 52.. l cated on opposilc sides of the rack b-.\r.- o7, TH. whirl-by the gear or pini n is caused to lrav-.-l.:n a sllongbl pu'b with llult':l.\l possible friction. as bc i llll of the pinion engage the tccth oi the mcl-t ban: in a uniform depth. Provision is made for preventing injury to the operativc parts, caused by the log :35 b ing suddenly nrrested in its movcnu-nt by the stop il'HlS 3U, 3], under the inllucncc oi the spring motor, and this result may be accomplish-d as herein sh wn by means of dash pots S3. S4 ccurcd to an upright so as to bocomc cffcctivc at or near the end of the movcmrnt ol' the I rack bar (37 in opposite directions. The dash pol $3 is provided with a piston 36 haviu in; rod onnected to oncend of a lover HT, pivotcd'to the npright'bo and It)? having its other cud extended into the path of movement of a stud or dcviccSS attached to the mck bar 67. The dash pot 84 has the rod 90 of its piston councctcd to one end of a lever 91 pivoted to the upright 85 and having its free end ext nded into the path of l I" movement of the stud or device 88. The free t lhln of the lovers H7, 91 may and preferably will be (mlncctcd iogctbcr by a link 92, so that both lovers are moved by the engagement of the rind or devi e 33 with eith r lover. The dash polo 8:5, 8'] arormngr-d, so that their pistons more inudlancom-ly in opposite directions, that is, when the piston o1 one dash pot as 8-1 is moved into its cylimler by the engagement of the device 5 3 with the lever 91, the piston oi the other dash pot 83 lb moved outol its cylinder and into position to become effective when the device 88 engages thc'lovcr 87. i

From the above description, it will be seen that with the apparatus herein shown, the high tension switch represented by the rod 65 is opened and closed at each complete reciprocation of the movable rack bar 67, and that such reciprocation is effected by each revolution of the crank shal'tj.

in Figs. It and -'l, the movable rack ar (i7 is shown in its lowered position, and a! such time the high lcu- J30 7 a suitable switch located at operated by the arm or frame sion switch may be supposed to be closed, and in Fig. 5, the rack bar (57 is shown in its elevated position, and at such time the high tension switch may be supposed to be open. The opening movement 0. the high tension switch takes place while the crank shaft j is turned hyits spring motor 2001' 21, a half'rcvolu'tion from the position shown in Fig. i to that. shown in Fig. i. liuring this half revolution of the eraulc shaft, the levem are turned upward on their pivot 72 and carry with thorn the pinion (38, which is revolv d by the stationary rack bar 76 in such direction as to cause the rack bar 67 to be moved upward. On the next half revolution of the crank shaftj iu the same direction, that is, from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 4, the lovers 70 are moved downward and the pinion 68 rolls over the stationary rack bar 76 and causes the rack bar 67 to be moved downward.

The crank shaftj as above described is driven by the spring motor 20 or 21, which is controlled in its action by the clcctroniagncts 38, 41, and these may he energized and dcenergized by the operator closing any desired point and not herein shown.

The electric motor '1 is employed to replenish the spring power employed to revolve the crank shaft and is automatically governed by tile circuit controller 47, the said motor being set in opera tion to rotate theshaft 9, when the power of the spring motor 20 or 2 has been reduced by turning the crank shaftj, and being stopped when the power of said spring motor has been restored 1 have herein shown and described the crank shaft j as beingarrested in its movement at each half revolution, whichis desirable when the apparatus is employed to operate the movable, member of an'elcctric ,switch, but I do not desire to limit my invention in this respect, as'for some purposes, it may be dcsira dc to have the crank shaft make one or more revolutions before being stopped, in which case it is only necessary to omit one of the electromagnets.

it will be observed, that'when the shaft j is released and the spring motor is allowed to act, the latter exerts a sudden and powerful action on the crank shaft j and turns the same rapidly, thereby effecting a quick open- I ing and closing of the switch represented by the rod it). The electric magncts'38,

4i are connected by suitable wires lOO, to terminals l0l,, .which are secured to but suitably insulated from the hub i8, so that. said terminals and wires move with the swinging frame or support 47- for the elcctron'iagm-ts. The terminals 101 are connected by wires 103' with stationary tcr-- minals 104 secured tobut suitably insulated from the hearing it. I

By reference to Figs. 6, 7, ii and 9, it will be ohsorvcd that the spring motor 20 or 21 is connected at one end to the drum 0 and at its other end lo the'disk p, and the action of the spring upon the switch memher 57 is transmitted through the disk or lug 28, stop lever 30, and frame 4? circuit controller governing the operation of the electric motor, and it will also be observed that as soon as the frame '17 is released from the disk )1, as by the encrgizing of the uiagncl 38, then the spring 52 becomes active and uiniediaM- closes tlw circuit of the motor. A1; d r sult of the; c. i.-trm,-ti--n, ii for any reason the to the movable member of the.

,saiu rotatable shaft by its spring motor,

itwith more power until sullicicnt power lnul been stored up in the spring to turn th shall I have herein shown one construction of apparatus,

which I may prefer, but 1 do not. desiie to limit my invention to the particular construction shown. (ll-aims.

l. in an apparatus of the class described, in colnblun tion, a movable ruck bu r, a stationary rack bar. a pinion or gcnr interposed between said ra'elr bars and meshing with both, a support for said pinion oi geur. pivoted levers to which said support is connected. a crank shaft. means f r connecting said levers with said crank shaft, a disk attuchcd to said crank shaft, n. coiled spring having one end connected with said disk, a drum to which the other end oi said spring is connected, a shaft on which said drum is first, an electric motor, gearing connecting the armature shaft of said motor \Flth said drum shaft, :1 lug on wild disk, stop lovers coilpcrntlng with said ing and arranged substantially diametricallyopposite, eleclroumgnets provided with armntnres, means for connecting said nrma- I tures with said stop levers, a movable support for said clectromngnets, and a circuit controller for said electric motor opernilvely connected with the movable support. for said electrouurgnets, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, tion a movable rack bar, a slutlounry rack bar, gcnr interposed between and in mesh with both of said rack bars. a rotatable shaft, mechanism connecting said pinion with said shaft to produce liodily movement of said pinion by rotation of said shaft, spring motor connected to mid shaft to eilect rotation of the some, means for controlling rotation of said shaft by said spring motor, and means for winding up said spring motor, substantially as described.

:l. in an apparatus of the class described, in combbur' tlou, a rotatable shaft, :1 spring motor to rotute it, a second shaft connected with said spring motor to .wlnd up the same, holding means to restrain the i rst-meutlom-d shaft from rotation under the influence of said spring motor, un cleetroumghet for releasing said holding means. an arm or frame mounted to swing in one dircction under the influonce of said spring motor, menus lo more said arm in the opposite direction, a circuit controller operated by said arm, nnd an electric motor for rotating said second shaft governed by said circuit controller, substantially as descrlbed.

4. in an apparatus of the class dcserlbml, in coinblnutlon, a rotatable shaft. n spring motor to rotate it, u slcmlli shnt't connected with said spring motor to wind up the sumo. lmlependeutly oi the rolatublc shaft, means to lnlnlv said second shaft. menus for stationary when said dctipfinined power,

spring motor is wound up to n p|'emenus for controlling the rolnllon of and menus gorernlug the rotation oi the second sluifunccording lo the condition of the spring motor and independent oi the mid tllm of the shaft driven by said sprint, motor subslnutlnlly as described.

,' ln nu apparatus of the class described, in couihlnnlion. u movable iWltt'll member, a rotatable shul'l, mechanism for connecting said switch member with said shaft to effect reclprm-ntlou .ol' said switch member by rolullon of said shaft. ii spring motor connected with said shaft to rotute it intermittently in the same dlrecllou, at second shaft to which said spring motor is conueelml, an cleclrlc motor for rotating said second shaft and thereby restore power in said spring motor, u circuit controller governing the opera lieu of said electric motor, menus opcrntively conueclln: said circuit controller with said spring motor to movie the circuit cmttrollcr into its open position when the power of the spiing inotor has reached it predetermined point. and n spi lng to .pet on said menus in opposition to said spring motor nd-close lhe circuit, controller when th amof the spriiig motor expended in rotating the shnl' l liltclt'tl with the switch member has been diminished to a predetermlucd point, substuntlulhy ",1, described.

in comblnna pinion or rendering said second sbnl'l Hll Hill

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